If you're a long-time reader of Open Mike — first off, thanks! — then that we've got a definite fascination — borderline obsession — with uniform numbers, particularly the locals. Twice up to now 16 years, we’ve up to date an all-time checklist of native uni numbers — 0 to 99 — and that by no means fails to stir a response.
A few of these calls have been simple — Who however Joe Namath is 12?
Some have been, let's say, a bit much less easy than that. Within the lists I compiled in each 2005 and 2020, I had Dave DeBusschere at No. 22. That didn’t precisely sit properly with Islanders followers, and understandably so: The late Mike Bossy wore No. 22 with distinction and honor for a few years. I made a decision they need to share the quantity.
Which ends up in this new chapter: What are the preferred New York numbers once you consider all 9 of our groups from the 4 essential sports activities?
We’ll check out the current athletes in a minute.
For starters, listed below are the preferred numbers, primarily based on gamers who have been adequate to have these numbers retired (for the aim of this dialogue, we’ll omit the numbers that are actually retired league-wide within the sports activities: (Jackie Robinson’s 42, Invoice Russell’s 6) in addition to Willie Mays’ 24 with the Mets, which was a principally symbolic gesture reflecting his standing in baseball New York).
4 gamers
3: Babe Ruth (Yankees), Drazen Petrovic (Nets), Harry Howell (Rangers), Ken Daneyko (Devils).
9: Roger Maris (Yankees), Andy Bathgate (Rangers), Adam Graves (Rangers), Clark Gillies (Islanders).
Three gamers
1: Billy Martin (Yankees), Ray Flaherty (Giants), Ed Giacomin (Rangers).
4: Lou Gehrig (Yankees), Tuffy Leemans (Giants), Scott Stevens (Devils).
5: Joe DiMaggio (Yankees), Jason Kidd (Nets), Denis Potvin (Islanders).
7: Mickey Mantle (Yankees), Mel Hein (Giants), Rod Gilbert (Rangers).
10: Phil Rizzuto (Yankees), Eli Manning (Giants), Clyde Frazier (Knicks).
14: Gil Hodges (Mets), Y.A. Tittle (Giants), Ward Cuff (Giants).
15: Thurman Munson (Yankees), Earl Monroe (Knicks), Dick McGuire (Knicks).
19: Willis Reed (Knicks), Jean Ratelle (Rangers), Bryan Trottier (Islanders).
23: Don Mattingly (Yankees), John Williamson (Nets), Bob Nystrom (Islanders).
32: Elston Howard (Yankees), Julius Erving (Nets), Al Blozis (Giants).
Two gamers
2: Derek Jeter (Yankees), Brian Leetch (Rangers).
8: Yogi Berra (Yankees), Invoice Dickey (Yankees).
11: Vic Hadfield (Rangers), Mark Messier (Rangers).
12: Namath (Jets), Dick Barnett (Knicks).
16: Whitey Ford (Yankees), Frank Gifford (Giants).
22: DeBusschere (Knicks), Bossy (Islanders).
27: John Tonelli (Islanders), Scott Niedermayer (Devils).
31: Mike Piazza (Mets), Billy Smith (Islanders).
37: Casey Stengel (Yankees), Stengel (Mets) — as supervisor for each.
42: Mariano Rivera (Yankees), Charlie Conerly (Giants).
So what’s the preferred quantity now amongst our athletes, a few of whom are nice, a few of whom are superb (although possibly not jersey-retirement high quality?
No. 20 is an effective place to start out, and if Pete Alonso (Mets) and Chris Kreider preserve buzzing alongside their profession paths, they might properly be a part of the Yankees’ Jorge Posada (the one retired 20 to this point). And although he’s simply six video games into his profession, the Jets’ Breece Corridor will most likely encourage some people to start out carrying “20” to MetLife Stadium (sprinkled among the many Namath 12s and the Klecko 73s).
No. 1 is one other: Jeff McNeil is a batting champ now, and also you’ll see a wave of 1s at Citi Discipline subsequent 12 months; Sauce Gardner is one other Jets rookie who will probably encourage a shopping for spree at nfl.com; and Obi Toppin might be essentially the most thrilling basketball participant in New York proper now, and also you already see loads of No. 1 Knicks jerseys on the Backyard.
The Yankees’ Aaron Choose has most likely already completely supplanted Wayne Gretzky, whose 99 isn’t retired by the Rangers, however whose presence in that jersey made it (and nonetheless does) a preferred one. The Giants’ Leonard Williams has it in him to make 99 a daily fixture at MetLife, too.
Vac’s Whacks
It’s simply not potential to jot down a biography higher than “The Final Folks Hero: the Life and Delusion of Bo Jackson,” which is Jeff Pearlman’s greatest ebook but. And that’s saying one thing.
We stay a divided nation, however few issues unite us — properly, no less than 49 states not named “Alabama” — greater than watching a university soccer stadium crowd rush the sector and tear down goalposts on the expense of Nick Saban.
Bobby Ojeda shall be going into the New York Baseball Corridor of Fame subsequent month, thanks largely to his 18 regular-season wins and two key postseason wins as an unsung member of the ’86 Mets. And his voice remains to be sorely missed within the SNY studio.
Properly, if 5-1 for the Giants and 4-2 for the Jets appears inconceivable … what would 6-1 and 5-2 really feel like? I imply: Why cease dreaming till they offer you a cause, am I proper?
Whack Again at Vac
Howard Luxenberg: The Guardians’ leadoff batter is like witnessing a revival of classic baseball. The man can hit, run and definitely is aware of the strike zone. Be good to have somebody of his capacity hitting in entrance of Choose.
Vac: See ya in 5 years, Steven Kwan!
Ron Gambardella: Appears just like the Mets pulled a Ralph Kramden on their option to the $64,000 query (World Sequence) and the Padres have been their “Swanee River.”
Vac: That WhackBack is devoted to all of you who, like Ron and me, used to suppose Channel 11 was the best place on earth as a result of that’s the place “The Honeymooners” was.
@MikeCordaro1: What would George Steinbrenner do? He wouldn’t do nothing, which approximates what Hal has finished the final couple of years.
@MikeVacc: Consider it or not, there was a time should you instructed somebody “the following proprietor of the Yankees shall be nothing like Steinbrenner,” that may’ve elicited an enormous sigh of aid.
Vic Copello: After listening to Bob Costas name the Yankees-Guardians on TBS, can we've got him name the play-by-play for each nationwide MLB baseball recreation and NFL soccer recreation? We don’t want some nonstop talkative analysts by his aspect. He's so informative and with none schtick.
Vac: I simply thought Bob may wish to know that not everybody was evaluating him to Johnny Unitas as a Charger this week.
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